The legend of poop at Jaro Plaza

By Noel Galon de Leon

Let me begin with an apology because today’s column is not for the faint of heart. I am about to talk about poop. Not the kind of figurative “political poop” we usually complain about, but the very real, smelly, stomach-churning kind. Yesterday, August 17, a pile of it was discovered right at the Jaro Plaza playground. And, as expected, chaos followed. Children were pulled away, parents covered their noses, and Mayor Inday Raisa herself had something to say. Now, if you have a weak stomach, you might want to stop reading at this point. But if you are curious not only about why in the world poop was left in the middle of a playground but also about what this says about our local governance, then I invite you to stay with me. This story is about poop, yes, but it is also about responsibility, neglect, and the strange way Facebook has replaced actual leadership.

So, let us go straight to the issue. A smelly surprise was found at the playground of Jaro Plaza. According to reports, the stench was so unbearable that no child dared to go near. The whole playground became a no-go zone. Someone alerted Mayor Inday Raisa, who reacted quickly enough and even posted about it on her official Facebook page.

That is where I start scratching my head. The mayor has a Facebook page that seems to be designed for public engagement. People leave comments, people give suggestions, people try to communicate. But there is one small problem. She does not reply. She does not engage. She does not even acknowledge. So, what is the point? Why even bother setting up a Facebook page if the intention is not to listen to the people? Facebook is not supposed to be a stage for one-woman monologues. It is supposed to be a dialogue. Otherwise it is just an online bulletin board that nobody really benefits from.

Now, let us return to the poop. Before we pass judgment on the mystery pooper of Jaro Plaza, let us ask ourselves some practical questions. Does Jaro Plaza even have a decent restroom? Is there a clean, permanent, running-water facility where people can go when nature calls? Because if the answer is no, then is it really a surprise that this kind of thing happens

Technically there are portalets. Those blue or green plastic boxes that show up in construction sites, festivals, and rallies. But here is the truth nobody wants to say out loud. People avoid them. Why? Because they stink. They reek of urine and chemical disinfectant mixed with hopelessness. The second you enter, you feel like you have been trapped in a chamber designed by someone who hates humanity.

For those unfamiliar with portalets, allow me to explain. A portalet is a portable toilet made of plastic, usually with a lockable door and tiny ventilation. There is no plumbing, no water connection. Instead, there is a large tank underneath that holds all the waste. This tank is filled with a blue chemical liquid that kills germs, dissolves solid waste, and supposedly controls the smell. Eventually, a maintenance crew comes with a vacuum truck to suck everything out and take it to a facility for processing. In theory, it is hygienic and convenient. In reality, if not maintained regularly, it turns into a stinking, unbearable box of human misery.

And this is exactly the problem in Jaro Plaza. There are no permanent restrooms. People are left with portalets that nobody in their right mind would want to use. So, what happens? People find other options. Sometimes those options involve a dark corner, a patch of grass, or heaven help us all, the middle of a playground.

This is why I am not shocked at all that poop was found at Jaro Plaza. As long as the plaza and other public spaces in Iloilo City have no clean and permanent toilets, we can expect more of this. It will happen again and again, like clockwork. It is not a question of if. It is a question of when.

And this is where the mayor’s role becomes critical. Being disappointed on Facebook is not enough. Issuing statements online does not solve the problem. What Iloilo City needs is actual action. What Jaro Plaza needs is a restroom that is clean, functional, and permanent. Not just one, but several. Toilets with water, toilets with maintenance staff, toilets that people are not afraid to enter.

Imagine how absurd it is that in 2025, in a city that prides itself on culture, heritage, and progress, our plazas still do not have decent restrooms. We have beautifully lit churches, giant malls, and coffee shops on every corner, yet our public plazas cannot provide the most basic human necessity. What is the use of a well-landscaped park if people cannot even pee or poop in peace?

So, here is my suggestion to Mayor Inday Raisa. Do not stop at posting on Facebook. Appoint someone whose sole mission in life is to build and maintain public restrooms. Make it a serious program, not an afterthought. Start with Jaro Plaza, then move on to every plaza in Iloilo City. Call it Project Dignity, Project Relief, Project Human Decency, whatever you want. Just build the restrooms.

Because at the end of the day, poop is not just poop. It is a symbol. It is a reminder of what happens when the government ignores basic needs. And if we cannot get toilets right, what hope do we have of solving bigger problems?

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Noel Galon de Leon is a writer and educator at University of the Philippines Visayas, where he teaches in both the Division of Professional Education and U.P. High School in Iloilo. He serves as an Executive Council Member of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts-National Committee on Literary Arts.